On its journey to become a global pharmaceutical business, Hikma chose Portugal as a strategic gateway to new markets.
Hikma is a leading multinational pharmaceutical group that develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of branded and non-branded generic medicines.
Founded in Jordan in 1978, the group eventually decided to reach beyond the Middle East and, in 1990, chose Portugal to set up its specialized injectables manufacturing plant. Today, this facility employs over 1,000 people and produces more than 160 high-quality products.
Established in Portugal: 1990
Industry: Life Sciences
Where: Sintra (Lisbon Metropolitan Area)
Country of origin: Jordan
Hikma’s story can be traced back more than 40 years, when the company's founder Samih Darwazah felt the need to create a business that could provide high-quality pharmaceutical products in Jordan and the surrounding region.
As the company started growing, the next step was to expand into Europe, an attractive market that could also serve as a “midway point” between the Middle East and the United States, explains Riad Mishlawi, President of Hikma’s Injectables Division.
When deciding on the ideal location to set up in Europe, Hikma chose Portugal for several reasons: “The fact that Portugal is very much in the centre of the world, with access to shipping everywhere, the fact that there were a lot of qualified people available, and the fact that the European Community encouraged investment in the country made Portugal a perfect place.”
Success Story: Hikma
Settling in Portugal was Hikma's first step into a new region and a major turning point for the company. The group continued its expansion in the Middle East and soon after entered the US market, establishing itself as a leading provider of generics on a global scale.
Nowadays, Hikma counts 32 manufacturing plants, 8 R&D centres, and over 8,000 employees, and has become a trusted partner to hospitals, physicians and pharmacists across North America, Europe and the MENA region.
The group's manufacturing site in Portugal remains the decision centre of its Injectables segment and is still expanding. “We have just bought new land and plan to build more buildings and bring in new technologies”, says Mishlawi. "The government has been very cooperative with us, in granting permits, and if we need something like electrical expansions (…) we think Portugal is the right place for us, and we have a lot of plans to expand even further here”.
Portugal is very much in the centre of the world, with access to shipping everywhere and a lot of qualified people available.Riad Mishlawi, President of Hikma’s Injectables Division
